High impulsivity in first grade may up risk of gambling problems in teens

A new study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health has linked a developmental pattern of impulsiveness in young males with gambling problems in late adolescence.

Respondents considered to be in the high impulsivity track as early as first grade doubled the odds of meeting criteria for at-risk/problem gambling, and tripled the odds of meeting criteria for problem gambling.

The study is the first to link a developmental pattern of impulsivity-defined as a tendency to make rush decisions without carefully considering potential negative consequences-and late-adolescent gambling.

The researchers studied 310 predominately African American and low socioeconomic males from first grade to late adolescence in an urban community in Baltimore, Maryland.

Ratings of classroom behavior were based on a Teacher Report of Classroom Behavior Checklist and included items such as waits for turn, interrupts, and blurts out answers. Annual assessments were made from ages 11 through 15.

Students fell into two distinct trajectories: 41 percent of the sample had a high impulse trajectory and 59 percent a lower impulse trajectory. While impulsivity tended to decline as the boys matured, those with high level of impulsivity in first grade were far more likely to remain among the 41 percent at adolescence.

Gambling behavior was assessed through interviews with students at ages 17, 19, and 20. Self- reported gambling behavior was assessed using the South Oaks Gambling Screen-Revised for Adolescents. The investigators found that boys in the high impulse trajectory group were twice as likely to meet the criteria for "at-risk" gambling behavior and three times the risk for the risk for problem gambling.

Over all, two-thirds of the boys in the study reported they engaged in some gambling, 20 percent met criteria for at-risk gambling, and 9 percent met the criteria as problem gamblers.

"Our findings reveal that there is a considerable link between youth impulsivity in the younger years and gambling issues as older teens," said Silvia Martins, MD, PhD, assistant professor of Epidemiology at Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health.

"This has important implications and provides clear research support for targeting impulsivity to prevent youth problem gambling," she added.